In some very exciting news from the library, Mrs Molloy’s beloved bearded dragon Pog (short for Pogona vitticeps) is becoming a more permanent part of the library.

Pog visited us last year for Science Week and Book Week, and she quickly became a bit of a superstar to staff and students.

Did you know that bearded dragons show their emotions through changing colour? When they are happy their beards become a bright orange, and Pog’s has been very orange whenever she has visited because she loves the attention!

A bearded dragon is not only a fun novelty, but there are also a few benefits to handling animals – and visiting your library.

By visiting Pog students are connecting with each other, building empathy through engaging with Pog, and are empowered to be curious about the world around them. Students are also encouraged to connect with reading and learning through visiting the library, creating opportunities to enjoy all the benefits reading has on academic achievement, mental wellbeing and social wellbeing.

Pog is now our Wellbeing Library Dragon and will be in the library from Monday-Thursday, and we would love for people to come and visit her. She likes to be held, read to and to help with study.

Catherine Manthey
Library Technician

Bibliography

Australian Museum. (2020, November 19). Central Bearded Dragon. https://australian.museum/lear...

Bone. J. (2013). The Animal as Fourth Educator: A Literature Review of Animals and Young Children in Pedagogical Relationships. Australian Journal of Early Childhood. 38. 57-64. DOI: 10.1177/183693911303800208.

Sikara. J. Evans. MDR. & Kelley. J. (2019). Scholarly culture: How books in adolescence enhance adult literacy, numeracy and technology skills in 31 societies. Social Science Research. 77 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssre...